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Norman Lear

Biography

Norman Milton Lear is an American television writer and producer who produced such 1970s sitcoms as All in the Family, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Maude. As a political activist, he founded the advocacy organization People for the American Way in 1981 and has supported First Amendment rights and progressive causes.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, to Enie/Jeanette (Sokolovsky) and Hyman "Herman" Lear, a traveling salesman. His grandparents were all Russian Jewish immigrants. Jeanette was the inspiration for the character Edith Bunker, and Herman for Archie Bunker. Lear won a one year-scholarship to Emerson College. He dropped out when news about Pearl Harbor struck, and decided to enroll in the United States Army. He was nineteen. In the army, Norman was a radio operator. He was discharged in 1945.

Norman landed a press agent job but was not being paid well so decided to pursue another career. In 1954, he was a writer for the CBS sitcom, Honestly, Celeste! Lear then became the producer of NBC's The Martha Raye Show. In 1959, he created his first TV series with Roland Kibbee, The Deputy, on NBC, starring Henry Fonda. In 1967 his comedic writing career began. He wrote and produced the 1967 film, Divorce American Style, and directed the film, Cold Turkey, starring Dick Van Dyke. All In The Family came about when Lear read a British column on the show "Til Death Do Us Part", about a father and a son-in-law who fought about everything politically. He immediately knew it was just like him and his father. Lear tried to sell the "blue" collar sitcom to ABC, and two pilots were filmed and rejected. A third pilot was filmed, and CBS picked up the show. It premiered on January 12, 1971.

When it was first aired, a big warning appeared on the screen stating none of the content being presented should be taken seriously and should only be seen for the purpose of hilarity. Next came Sanford And Son, along with creator Bud Yorkin, in 1972. It was inspired by British sitcom Steptoe and Son. In All In The Family, a guest-star named Bea Arthur appeared in an episode and in 1972 the first spin-off was formed called Maude, starring Arthur. A memorable episode from Maude which struck a degree of controversy was the abortion episode. A spin-off from Maude, Good Times, with the maid character played by Esther Rolle, premiered in 1974, dealing with issues like poverty, crime, welfare and life in low-income African-American housing areas. This wasn't the only sitcom to depict life for African-Americans: in 1975 The Jeffersons, another spin-off from All In The Family, followed. All In The Family received multiple Emmy awards. Good Times ran for five seasons till 1979, with multiple Golden Globe nominations. Maude ran for six seasons, till 1978, receiving multiple Emmy and Golden Globe wins and nominations. Sanford and Son ended in 1977 with a Golden Globe win and several Emmy nominations. All In The Family ended in 1979, after nine seasons. Next came another spin-off of the show called Archie Bunker's Place, with Caroll O'Connor and Danielle Brisebois. Archie Bunker's Place ended in 1983, and was his last successful television show. Lear made a comeback in 1990 with several short-lived shows, including Sunday Dinner and 704 Hauser.

Actor

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

2021

as Self - Host

Adventures In Christmasing

2021

as Himself

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

2019

as Self - Co-Host

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"

2019

as Himself (host)

A Different Approach

1978

Cold Turkey

1971

as Crying Man (uncredited)

Come Blow Your Horn

1963

as Party Guest (uncredited)

Documentaries

Norman Lear: A Life on Television

2023

as Self

Being Mary Tyler Moore

2023

as Self (voice)

A Case for Kindness

2022

as Self

Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter

2022

as Self

Gratitude Revealed

2022

as Himself

"Sr."

2022

as Self

Lucy and Desi

2022

as Self

The Super Bob Einstein Movie

2021

as Self

Dean Martin: King of Cool

2021

as Self

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

2021

as Self

Find Your Groove

2020

as Self

I Want My MTV

2019

as Self

Robert Scheer: Above the Fold

2019

as Self

Viewer Direction Advised

2018

as Self

The Newspaperman: The Life and Times of Ben Bradlee

2017

as Self

If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast

2017

as Self

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

2016

as Self

Corpus Christi: Playing with Redemption

2013

as Self

Casting By

2012

as Self

Pablo

2012

as Self

The Television Revolution Begins: "All in the Family" Is On the Air

2009

as Self

Those Were the Days: The Birth of "All in the Family"

2009

as Self

The Brothers Warner

2008

as Self - Producer

A Note of Triumph: The Golden Age of Norman Corwin

2005

The Golden Girls: Lifetime Intimate Portrait Series

2003

as Self

Funny Is Money

1999

as Self

Perfect Moment

1997

as Self

Color Adjustment

1992

as Self

All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special

1991

as Self - Host

Production

Duino

2024

Executive Producer

I Got A Monster

2023

Executive Producer

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes

2021

Executive Producer

I Carry You with Me

2021

Executive Producer

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

2021

Executive Producer

Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"

2019

Executive Producer

Playing For Change 3 - Songs Around The World

2014

Executive Producer

Pete Seeger: The Power of Song

2007

Executive Producer

Way Past Cool

2000

Executive Producer

Fried Green Tomatoes

1991

Executive Producer

All in the Family: 20th Anniversary Special

1991

Executive Producer

The Princess Bride

1987

Executive Producer

Heartsounds

1984

Executive Producer

I Love Liberty

1982

Executive Producer

The Thief Who Came to Dinner

1973

Producer

Cold Turkey

1971

Producer

Start the Revolution Without Me

1970

Executive Producer

The Night They Raided Minsky's

1968

Producer

Divorce American Style

1967

Producer

Never Too Late

1965

Producer

Come Blow Your Horn

1963

Producer

Norman Lear

Actor

Videos

Documentaries

Directing

Production

Writing

Crew